In memory of Gary Schnarr: A message from Pamela Alexander, Michael Polzler and Walter Schneider
Gary Schnarr was a special person. As a member of an industry with many remarkable leaders, Gary found a way to stand apart from the crowd.
Top producers around Gary were always looking for ways to do more business, and to do it better, but Gary’s goal was to lift those around him and raise the bar on the industry as a whole.
To put it simply, Gary cared.
To us and the ReMax family, Gary was an esteemed colleague and a very cherished, long-time friend. He joined ReMax Ontario-Atlantic Canada/ReMax Integra in the early 2000s, after working as a successful real estate broker and consultant in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and serving as president of the Canadian Real Estate Association in 1995.
During his distinguished career, Gary took on a variety of roles with gusto, including executive vice president of business development with ReMax Ontario-Atlantic Canada, ReMax Integra U.S. regions and ReMax Europe. Gary developed tools, processes and systems, and provided continuous leadership that facilitated the growth of many franchises within the community.
Gary’s valuable contributions were always appreciated and respected, but most of all, his dedication to education was inspiring. Gary thrived as a mentor, sharing his knowledge and experiences to help others grow and become their best selves.
Gary’s ethics, ambition and hard work helped the leadership team come together as one, which made the business run smoothly for us all. No project was ever too much, and no travel too far. When needs presented themselves, as they so often did, Gary was always there and we couldn’t have done our jobs without him.
Gary was not just an outstanding colleague but a loving family man first and foremost. During our discussions on a personal level, Gary spoke of his children, his dear wife Sharon, his grandchildren, parents and friends. His love for his family was always top of mind, and his work schedule revolved around them, as the centre of his universe.
We met with Gary when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. In speaking with him at that time, he accepted the diagnosis in a manner true to his form: with positivity and with class. His strength is unforgettable, on what was undoubtedly one of our saddest days spent with this dear friend.
Knowing Gary was an honour, and we are forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with him for so many years.
In an industry where being number one matters, it’s important to remember that nobody gets there alone. Gary’s accomplishments are incredible, and his drive for a good and better life will always be an inspiration.
Gary passed away peacefully on Oct. 21, 2024 at the age of 73.
